The Light

Herald rating: * * *

This French film, an old-fashioned romantic drama, makes fine use of its ravishingly rugged setting - a small island off the coast of Brittany which is more reminiscent of Scotland than France - as it unravels its tale of forbidden passion.

The presence of the lustrous Bonnaire and the competent direction of Lioret, a veteran sound engineer, ensure that the product is accomplished and effective though it does nothing striking with well-worn material. The story is framed by the present-day arrival on Ouessant island of a woman who has inherited her parents' cottage and comes across a book that unlocks secrets of her parents' past and her own.

The film proper is set in the early 60s and examines what happens when Antoine (Derangere), a wounded veteran of the Algerian campaign, arrives at the isolated community to work in the lighthouse.

Antoine's outsider status is underlined by the film's French title, L'Equipier, which means "the team member". He has to join a team where no one wants him and the sense of hostility is almost palpable. As he settles into a regime of work with Yvon (Torreton), the film is at its most fascinating, an observant work of documentary about a dying profession.

The passion that erupts between Antoine and Yvon's wife Mabe (Bonnaire) is more predictable but Lioret plays it for suspense, as a drama rather than an erotic romance.

The result is a film that is satisfying without being particularly impressive, but a good one nonetheless.

CAST: Sandrine Bonnaire, Philippe Torreton, Gregori Derangere
DIRECTOR: Philippe Lioret
RUNNING TIME: 104 minutes
RATING: M, contains adult themes.
SCREENING: Lido, Bridgeway from Thursday